Pot? Kettle? Black? Slavery and Comfort Women

The US House of Representatives, now under the control of the Democrats, has wasted no time since taking control two months ago to address the most important crisis in America: passing a resolution criticizing Japan for not apologizing for the wartime Imperial government’s alleged involvement with “Comfort Women” (overview here, insight here).

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, known on this side of the Pacific for his brashness, has been unusually calm and measured in his response, probably because he’s dealing with America and not an Asian neighbor:

[Aso called the] draft resolution on World War II comfort women before U.S. Congress “extremely regrettable”Â? and “not based on objective facts.”Â? The resolution, calling for an apology from the Japanese government for drafting thousands of women across Asia into sexual slavery, was submitted to Congress in late January. He made it clear that Tokyo will seek to prevent passage of the resolution, which he said does “not reflect views of the Japanese government.”Â? He said Tokyo will try to make Congress understand its position even though the resolution is not legally binding.

Exactly what business other countries have sticking their beaks in how other country’s treat history is beyond us here at CA, and it’s been addressed previously here. To go a step further, I personally think it’s batshit crazy for another country to criticize another country’s history for no other apparent reason than to 1.) appeal to domestic interest groups, and 2.) pat themselves on the back for being so self-righteous, especially when, such as in this case, the result will be nothing other than piss off Washington’s only remaining major geopolitical ally, and reward a country (ROK) whose people loathe America.

Of course, in this vein it’s worth noting that Virginia just become the first state to pass a resolution expressing “sorrow and regret” for slavery. No mention has been made of reparations, and of course, Congress has yet to lift a finger on this regard. Yet if we follow the logic of the current resolution, foreign countries should be passing resolutions to demand the US apologize for slavery. If the geopolitical argument noted above doesn’t win out over these blockhead Congressman, perhaps this will.